There are a number of knives I'd use before anything in FRN, because I personally don't like the stuff at all. However, I've been happy with all the Spydercos I've bought, they're well made knives with good ergonomics, and when I order one, I know what to expect. One of the things I expect, is that it will be legal in my state. Half of the flippers I've bought lately, I had to return, because they qualified as illegal gravity knives. On a related note, I prefer washers over bearings, which some manufacturers don't accommodate. I'm not big on liner locks either, and Spyderco offers good alternatives. Unlike with some companies, where if you don't want a flipper with bearings and/or a liner/frame lock, you're just out of luck.

That said, I'm not a big Spyderco fan, none of the last dozen knives I've bought were Spydercos, but only one was a flipper with bearings and a liner lock, and I don't plan on buying (and probably having to return) any more of those. When I hear a knife is super fidgety, I actively avoid it.

Different knives for different needs.